“In 1987 and 1988, the artist had two exhibitions entitled ‘Naesa Chiaroscuro I and II’ in the Lopez Museum and the Le Meriedien in Singapore featuring a new series of artworks of the ‘Naesa’ series (named after his eldest daughter Naesa, i.e. ASEAN spelt backwards).
“Eric Torres writes in ‘Through a Green Glass, Brightly: The Orlina Phenomenon,’ 1988: What makes ‘Naesa’ an advance on his earlier efforts is the conscious deployment of light as a vital element in his sculpture. Orlina now truly sculpts with light, in particular light ‘trapped within’ the glass block (an illusion, of course, since the material isn’t hollow but solid). There is a deliberate attempt to give direction to the effects of refracted light (or light ‘trapped within’ glass) and integrate these with the overall design. There is also an attempt to relate the flow of lines and shapes and masses, or facets, on one side of the sculpture with that on the other side(s) as seen through the glass, to establish greater artistic balance, proportion, and unity in a composition meant to be perceived in the round. In regulating the passage of light through the glass, Orlina frosts certain sides, or facets, of his sculpture. Combining the frosted areas with the crystalline ones is a means of modulating, balancing, and maintaining a desirable sense of continuity in the various movements of linear, planar, and tonal elements.”
The ceiling height in the photo is at least eight feet in accordance with the National Building Code of the Philippines so that the piece is probably 10’ x 6’.
“‘Orlina’s contribution to society, both to its spirit and the economy, is witnessed by the major commissions he has received. The first, ARCANUM XIX, Paradize Gained, greeted me in the foyer of the Silahis Hotel on the first day of my first visit to the Philippines in 1976. In the 1970s, few large-scale contemporary glass works existed anywhere in the world. This work gave the lie to the popular notion that contemporary glass was a creature of Europe and North America.’ (The work is now on loan to the National Museum.)
“Dr. Gerry King is an internationally known Australian artist and designer working in contemporary glass. He is also an author, lecturer, workshop leader, and consultant. Taken from BluPrint Special issue on Global Pinoy.”
Description by Museo Orlina
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